Apparatus for animating a jointed figurine



Oct. 21, 1958 Filed Dec. 12, 1955 S. M. SILVER APPARATUS FOR ANIMATING AJOINTED FIGURINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Y j/a/r MS/Mr Oct. 21, 1958 s. M.- SILVER 2,856,712

APPARATUS FOR ANIMATING A JOINTED FIGURINE Filed D90. 12, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ksfah M 51%" BY United States Patent l APPARATUS FQR AND/IATING AJOINTED FIGURINE Stan M. Silver, New York, N. Y. Application December12, 1955, Serial No. 552,399 18 Claims. (Cl. 40-282) The presentinvention relates to an articulated figurine and to the means forimparting animated motion to such figurine. More specifically, theinvention relates to such figurine and the animating means therefor thatmay be associated with and actuated by a phonograph or similar mechanismhaving a turntable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an articulatedfigurine and animation means therefor, of the character described, thatmay be associated with and actuated by the mechanism of substantiallyany conventional, box-type or similar grooved-disc sound record playeror phonograph, or other device having a turntable on which such a soundrecord may be mounted for reproduction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide devices of thecharacter described that may be operated simultaneously with the playingof a sound record on such phonograph or the like, whereby the motion ofthe figurine will accompany the reproduced sound.

It is also an object of the present invention to pro vide devices of thecharacter described wherein the animation of the figurine and themovement of its articulated members are directly and positively effectedand controlled.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide devicesof the character described wherein the animation efiecting andcontrolling means may he formed to have the imparted movements of thefigurine and its members and their tempo synchronized with the tempo ofthe sound reproduced from the simultaneously played sound record.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide devices ofthe character described in which the controlled and regulated animationof the figurine may be continued for a relatively appreciable andprolonged period of time.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide devicesof the character described which may be readily and easily assembledwith and disassembled from the actuating phonograph,or the like, and maybe readily and easily adjusted for assembly with phonographs, or thelike, of varying sizes and shapes.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the articulatedfigurine and means for its animation, of the present invention, willbecome more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from theembodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from thedescription following. It is to be understood, however, that suchembodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principlesand practice of the invention more readily comprehensible,'and withoutany intent of limiting the invention to the specific details thereinshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the devices of the present inventionshown installed and assembled witha con- Patented Oct. 21, 1958ventional type of grooved-disc record player or phonograph; partlybroken away, to show structural details;

Fig. 2 is an-enlarged, sectional and partly elevational view of thesame;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the relative position of the soundrecord and the animating record of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational and partly sectionalview of one embodiment of an articulated figurine of the presentinvention, its supporting means and the animating track of the animationrecord;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of one form ofskeletal structure and articulative connections of the figurine of theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional and partly elevational view ofthe head and hat mounting for the figurine.

Generally stated, the invention consists in the provision of a soundrecord of relatively large diameter, having its sound grooves formed onthe outer marginal portion of one of its surfaces, and a superposable,companion, animation record of lesser diameter and having a spiral,grooved, preferably double grooved, animation track, with the groove orgrooves having an irregularly undulating bottom into which extends aterminal portion of an articulated or pivoted member of a figurine, towhich member another articulated member of thefigurine is directly andpositively connected for concurrent movement therewith. The inventionfurther consists of means for supporting the figurine in laterallymovable position over the animation record and of additional means forslowing the movement of the animation record relative the movement ofthe sound record while both are moved by the phonograph mechanism, sothat they will both be operative for the same length of time.

More specifically stated, the invention consists of several parts andmechanisms that may be operatively associated with a grooved-disc recordplayer, such as the phonograph '10, which may be of any suitable kind,mechanical or electrical, having a turntable 12, a cen-. tering pin 14,a sound arm 16, and a sound box 18 holding the needle 20, all of whichparts may be of any suitable conventional type.

One of the several elements of the devices' of the present inventionconsists of a gr eved-disc sound record, generally designated as 22,which may be formed of conventionally used material and may be ofrelatively large, as maximum conventional diameter, and having thecentral opening 24 for engagement over the centering pin 14 of thephonograph. The record 22 is provided with sound grooves 26, preferablyonly on the peripheral portion of its upper surface, leaving the centralportion ungrooved, and is provided on the same surface, around andrelatively closely adjacent to the opening 24, with an annular rib ofrectangular cross-section in which are formed gear teeth to provide anannular crown gear 28; the rib being, preferably, of greater height thanthe gear teeth, to provide clearance.

Another of the elements of the devices of the present inventioncomprises a companion disc record, generally designated as 32, which maybe formed of any suitable material and may be thicker than the record 22and of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the ungroovedportion of the record 22. The record 32 is provided with a central,centering opening 34, and with a crown gear 42, similar in constructiontothe crown gear 28, on its underside, adjacent its peripheral edge, sothat the crown gear 42 is of substantially greater diameter than thecrown gear 28.

The record 32 is provided on its upper surface with an animation trackconsisting of one or more and preferably a pair of spirally arrangedparallel animation grooves 38, each having a vertically and irregularlyundulating bottom 40, preferably of different contour than the other.

Means are provided for c-o-mounting the two records, 22 and 32, on aphonograph and for their simultaneous movement by it at different ratesof speed, so that the animation record 32, whose double groovedanimation track is of realtively great width and would require. or covera great area if moved at the same rate of speed as the sound record 22,may move at a much slower rate of speed than the sound record, so thatboth of the records may act for the same length of time.

Such means comprises a preferably threaded post 44, set into a suitablesupporting base 46, by which it may be supported. on the phonographsupporting surface and which may, if desired, be in the form of asuction cup, as illustrated. The post 44 may be rendered verticallyadjustable by carrying an internally threaded sleeve 48, which isprovided at its lower end with a laterally extending stud 50, in whichis formed a socket 52, for receiving therein the ball 54, at one end ofa rod 56, to form a ball and socket joint therewith. The rod 56 is alsoprovided with a ball 58 at its other end, which engages within thesocket 60, formed in the side of a coupling block 62. The coupling block62 is formed with a recess 64 in its underside, which is adapted to fitfreely over the end of the centering pin 14 of the phonograph, to permitthe latters free rotation within such recess.

The coupling block 62 is preferably formed with a fiat top surface 66,in which is formed a preferably small, centrally disposed recess 68, inwhich may freely rotatably fit the projection or knob 70, at the lowerend of a relatively short post 72, which may fit within the centralopening 34 of the animation record 32. The post 32 is provided at itslower extremity with a relatively Wide, laterally extending flange 74that may serve as a turntable for the animation record 32.

.The rod 56 carries a pair of pinion gears, 76 and 78, one of which, as78, is engageable with the crown gear 28 vvhen'the sound record 22 is inplace on the turntable and the coupling block 62 is positioned over thecentering post 14, and the other of which, 76, is. engageable with thecrown gear 42, when the post 72 is positioned on the coupling block 62and the animation disc is placed on the flange 74.

It will be seen that, as the turntable 12 and record 22 carried therebyrotate in a generally clockwise direction, the crown gear 28 of therecord 22 will engage the pinion 78 and cause it and its supporting rod56 and companion pinion 76 to rotate counterclockwise, and the latter,engaging crown gear 42, will cause the animation record to rotate in acounterclockwise direction, opposite to the direction of record 22. Thisdiiference in rotational direction is made possible by the couplingblock 62 which is interposed between the centering pin 14 of theturntable 12 and the animation record support 74.

It will also be clear that because of the greater radius and length ofthe crown gear 42 relative to rack 28, the disc or record 32 will rotateat lesser speed than the record 22, at a ratio inverse to the ratio oftheir respective lengths.

The sleeve 48 is provided, at its upper end, with a laterally extendingarm 80, adapted to be disposed to overhang the animation disc 32, whenthe latter is in position on a phonograph, and to serve as a guide andtrack for movement in a horizontal plane over the animation disc 32, forthe articulated figurine, generally designated, as 82. For firmersupport of the figurine 82, the arm 80 is preferably of irregularcross-section, such as the cross-shaped cross-section illustrated, andengages ina similarly shaped, closely fitting opening 84, formed in apreferably handle-like extension 86, provided on the figurine 82, as onthe back of its torso portion 88.

The torso 88 of the figurine 82 is preferably hollow and is provided.with pivoted appendages, such asthe arms-:90,

having the jointed elbows 91, and the legs 92, having the jointed knees93, which legs and arms are pivotally supported thereon in suitableposition for movement in a vertical plane. The legs and arms 92 and 90are preferably of light but sufficient weight, to be easily raised inposition and to just as easily automatically and gravitationally drop tolower position.

The legs 92 which are directly actuated for movement by the animationdisc 32, as will hereinafter be made clear, are each positivelyconnected to an arm 90, for positive simultaneous movement of the armwith its connected leg. Preferably, such connection is effected betweenopposite body members; the right leg being connected to the left arm,and vice versa. Preferably, the pivotal mounting means for the arms andlegs also serve as at least part of the interconnecting means betweenthem.

Thus, each of the legs 92 may be supported by an L-shaped barhorizontally disposed and rotatably supported within the torso 88. Suchbar may comprise a longer, laterally extending arm 94, rotatablysupported, as in eyes 95, set into the wall of the torso, with one endprojecting from the torso and set in a suitable recess in the upperportion of the leg 92; the other arm of the bar 96, extending forwardlywithin the torso and is provided with an aperture 98 at its free end.For improved connectionbetween the bar arm 94 and the leg 92, at leastthe leg engaging portion of the bar arm 94 may be of polygonal crosssection and the recess in the leg receiving it of corresponding shape.The bar arms 94 may terminate short of one another within the torso.

The figurine arms 90 may be similarly mounted on L-shaped bars havingthe laterally extending bar arms 100, each supported in eyelets 102, setin the tors-o wall, the free end. of which bar arms each extends to theexterior of the torso to support an arm 90. Said bar arms 100 preferablyoverlap within the torso and each has a for-.

wardly extending bar portion 104 with an opening 106 formed therein atits free end. The bar arms 100 over lap in a manner to bring the rightbar arm 104 in vertical register with the left bar arm 96, and the leftbar arm 104 in vertical register with the right bar arm 96, so thattheir apertures 98 and 106 may be connected by the connecting rods 108.In this manner, the upper movement of the right leg 92 will turn the bararm 94 to tilt its associated arm 96 upwardly. This, in turn, will movethe rod 108 upwardly, to tilt the bar arm 104 connected thereto, whichturns the bar arm 100 and thereby raises the arm 90 supported thereon.

Motion is imparted to the legs 92 by the undulations of the bottom 40 ofthe grooves 38 of the animation track of the animation disc 32, as thelatter rotates; the figurine being supported over such disc with itslegs contacting such groove bottoms, each within one of said grooves.However, because the space between legs 92 is generally greater than thespace separating the two grooves 38 of the animation track, and alsobecause it is desirable to provide a degree of springiness andresilience to the movement of the legs 92, to avoid rough and jerkymovement thereof, there is provided at the bottom of each leg aninverted L-shaped spring wire 110, which is connected by one end to thebottom of the leg 92, its other end facing the other leg and dependingto engage within one of the grooves 38 of the animation track.

Additional movable figurine parts, animated, either di.-

rectly or indirectly, in response to the undulations of the bottoms 40of the animation track grooves 38, may be provided on the figurine 82.In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, such additional movableparts'consist of a head 112 and a hat 114. The head 112 comprises a.

hollow body of suitable shape having a neck opening and a slot 116, atthe top thereof, and provided on itsfaceside with a nasal projection 118and eye. openings 120. The

' head is associated with a separate, tion 122.

Tomount the head 112, hat 114 and jaw 122, for movement in response tothe undulations of the animation track of the disc 32, there is providedat the corner of one of the L-shaped arm supporting bars an upwardlydirected extension 124, on which is mounted a cylinder 126, into theupper face of which is set an upright, resilient rod 128, and one end ofa coil spring 130. The jaw 122 is secured by its inner end to the rod128, immediately above the surrounding coil spring 130. Above the jaw,the rod 128 carries a curved plate 132, on which are provided, insuitably spaced position, eyeball simulating discs 134. The head 112 ismounted over the rod 128, whose free upper end projects through the slot116, and over the plate 132, and is secured in position by the upper endof the coil spring 130 which engages the rear edge of the neck openingof the head, as at 136, in position to have the eye openings 120register, when the figurine is at rest, with the eye discs 134. The hat114 is mounted on the upper end of the rod 128, in fixed positionthereon.

It will be apparent that, as the arm supporting bar carrying the barextension 124 is tilted in response to the record induced movement ofthe legs 92, the rod 128 will move vertically as well as side to side,to move the jaw 122 and plate 132, supported thereon and also the hat114 at its end. Such motion will also cause the coil spring 130 and head112 attached thereto to undergo similar movement, all in substantialsynchronization with the movement of the legs 92 andarms 90 and,therefore, with the undulations of the bottom 40 of the animation trackgrooves 38, and, if desired, with the tempo and beat of the sound ofrecord 22, with which such undulations may be synchronized.

This completes the description of the animating apparatus of the presentinvention; and it may here be stated that, while the animated figurinehas been illustrated as that of a human, the invention need not belimited to a human figurine; but, that the apparatus of the invention isequally operable in connection with other types of figurines, whether ofanimate or inanimate nature.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the apparatus ofthe present invention comprises a practical, efficient and interestingdevice not only for effecting movement of a figurine simultaneously withthe reproduction of sound; but also for synchronizing the movement ormotions of the figurine or its several members with the sound byarranging the undulations in the floor of the grooved, spiral animatingtrack in a predetermined manner to effect such synchronized motion.

It will also be apparent that the apparatus of the present invention,particularly that part of the apparatus excluding the turntable and themechanism for rotating it, is of relatively simple construction,relatively easy to assemble and set up; is of relatively universaladaptability with phonographs and record players of substantially anytype; and is relatively economical to produce.

It will be further apparent that numerous variations and modificationsin the apparatus of the present invention, in the mechanism adapting thefigurine and motion record for use with record players or phonographs,as well as in the shape, form, type and structure of the figurine, maybe made by any one skilled in the art, in accordance with the principleof the invention hereinabove set forth, and without the exercise of anyinventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any andall such variations and modifications that may be made within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. Figurine animating apparatus, comprising, in combination with aturntable and means for rotating the same, a disc supportable on saidturntable for rotary movement thereby, said disc having a spirallygrooved track formed therein, said grooved track having varyingunconnected jaw pordepth to provide a floor of uneven level therein; afigurine, including a main body portion and a member pivotally securedthereon for vertical movement and resilient wire means having one endreceivable within said grooved track and connected to said movablemember for actuating the same in response to the level variations in thegrooved track floor; and means above said turntable mounting saidfigurine for horizontally and radially sliding movement over said disc.

2.. Figurine animating apparatus, comprising, in combination with aturntable and means for rotating the same, a disc having a spirallygrooved track formed therein, said grooved track being of varying depthto provide a floor of uneven level; means mounting said disc on saidturntable for rotation thereby; a figurine, including a main bodyportion and a member pivotally secured thereto for vertical movementrelative thereto and resilient Wire means having one end receivablewithin said grooved track supported on said main body portion andconnected to said member for actuating the same in response to the floorlevel variations of said grooved track; and means above saidturntablemounting said figurine in horizontally and radially slidable relationover said disc.

3. Figurine animating apparatus, comprising, in combination with aturntable and means for rotating the same, a disc having a spirallygrooved track formed therein, said track being of varying depth toprovide a groove floor of uneven level; means mounting said disc on saidturntable for rotation at a reduced rate of speed relative thereto; afigurine, including a main body portion and a member supported thereonfor movement relative thereto and resilient wire means having one endreceivable within said grooved track connected to said member foractuating the same in response to the floor level variations of saidgrooved track; and means mounting said figurine in horizontally andradially slidable relation over said disc, including an upright post,means for supporting said post in upright position, a horizontallydisposed arm extending from an upper portion of said post and atransverse opening on said figurine within which said horizontal arm isreceivable. I

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said horizontal arm is verticallyadjustable on said upright post.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said upright post is telescopic andcomprises a threaded rod] and an internally threaded sleeve, saidhorizontal arm secured to said threaded sleeve.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said main body portion is providedwith a second member supported thereon for movement relative thereto andwherein means are provided for interconnecting said second member withsaid first member for simultaneous movement.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said main body portion is providedwith a second member supported thereon for movement relative thereto ata diagonally opposed portion thereof relative to said first member, andwherein means are provided for interconnecting said second member withsaid first member for simultaneous movement.

8. Figurine animating apparatus comprising, in combination, with aturntable adapted to support a disc shaped sound record and having acentering pin, an associated sound arm having a sound box at the endthereof, and means for rotating said turntable, a sound record ofrelatively large diameter supportable on said turntable in centeredposition on said pin, said record having sound reproducing groovesformed on the peripheral portion of its upper face, a disc of lesserdiameter than said sound record having a spirally grooved track on itsupper surface of varying depth to provide a floor of uneven level; meansmounting said disc on said turntable above said sound record andconcentrically therewith for rotation by said turntable at a reducedspeed relative to said turntable; an animative figurine, including amain body portion and at least one body member supported thereon formovement relative thereto, means connected to said member extending intosaid grooved track for moving said member in response to the variationsin the floor level of said track, and means mounting said figurine forslidable movement radially of said turntable.

9. Figurine animating apparatus comprising, the combination, with aturntable adapted to support a disc shaped, grooved sound record andhaving a centering pin, an associated sound arm having a sound box atthe end thereof, and means for rotating said turntable, of a soundrecord of relatively large diameter supportable on said turntable incentered position on said pin, said record having sound reproducinggrooves formed on the peripheral portion thereof, a disc of lesserdiameter than said sound record having a spirally grooved track on itsupper surface of varying depth to provide a floor of uneven level; meansmounting said disc on said turntable above said sound record andconcentrically therewith for rotation by said turntable at a reducedrate of speed relative to said sound record; and an animative figurine,including a main body portion and at least one body member supportedthereon for movement relative thereto, means connected to said memberextending into said grooved track for moving said member in response tothe variations in the floor of said track; and means mounting saidfigurine for horizontal slidable movement radially of said turntable,including a post, means for supporting said post in upright positionalongside said turntable, a horizontally disposed arm extending from anupper portion of said post, and a transverse opening in said figurineslidably engageable on said arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said horizontal arm is verticallyadjustable on said upright post.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said upright post is telescopicand comprises a pair of interengaged threaded portions and wherein saidhorizontal arm is secured to the uppermost of said threaded portions.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for mounting said discon said turntable comprises a block having registering recesses inopposed faces thereof, one of said recesses adapted to fit freelymovably over the end of said centering pin, a second centering pinhaving a projection at its lower end-adapted to fit freely movably inthe sec-nd of said recesses in said block and having a laterallyextending flange at its lower end adapted to support said disc thereon,a circular crown gear on the ungrooved, underside of said disc adjacentthe periphery thereof, a circular crown gear of relatively lesserdiameter on the grooved face of said sound record in proximity to itscenter, a rod flexibly and rotatably connected by one end to said blockand by its other end to said post, said rod having a pair of pinionsfixed thereon, one of said pinions engaging said circular crown gear onsaid disc and the other of said pinions engaging the circular crown gearon said sound record.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for mounting said discfor rotation on said turntable comprises a block having registeringrecesses in opposed faces thereof, one of said recesses fitting freelyand rotatably over the end of said centering pin, a second centering pinhaving a projection formed on an end face thereof freely and rotatablymovable in the second of said recesses in said block and having alaterally extending flange adjacent said end face for supporting saiddisc thereon, a circular crown gear provided on the ungrooved undersideof said disc adjacent its periphery, the teeth of said rack being spacedfrom the surface of said disc, a circular crown gear of relativelylesser diameter provided on the grooved surface of said sound record inproximity to the center thereof, the teeth of said groove spaced fro-mthe surface of said sound record, a rod flexibly and rotatably connectedby one end to said block and by its other end to said post, said rodhaving a pair of pinions fixed thereon, one of said pinions engagingsaid disc crown gear and the other of said pinions engaging said soundrecord crown gear.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said main body portion has aplurality of members supported thereon for movement relative thereto andwherein said track comprises a plurality of closely spaced parallelgrooves each having a floor of uneven level and wherein each of saidmembers has means connected thereto extending into a groove of saidtrack.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means supported on said bodyportion comprises a resilient wire extending from said body portion intosaid disc track and resting on the floor of said track.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said figurine has a pair ofmembers pivotally secured to opposed sides of the main body portionthereof, and wherein said main body portion supports a pair of resilientwires each secured to one of said members and each engaging within agroove of said track and normally resting on the floor thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said figurine body has a pair ofmembers each individually pivotally supported thereon for relativemovement thereto, each on one side thereof, and wherein said trackcomprises a pair of closely spaced, parallel, narrow grooves spirallyformed in said disc, and wherein each of said members has meansconnected thereto and extending into said track, said means comprising apair of resilient wires each connected by one end to one of said membersand having its other end extending into a groove of said track.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said body is provided with a pairof members each individually pivotally supported thereon for relativemovement thereto, and wherein both of said members have means connectedthereto for engaging Within said track, said means comprising a pair ofresilient wires supported on said body and connected one to each of saidmembers, and wherein said body has a second pair of members eachindividually pivoted on said body and means interconnecting a member ofone pair with a member of the second pair, in diagonally opposedrelation, and wherein said track comprises a pair of closely spaced,parallel spiral grooves, each of said wires engaging within one of saidgrooves and resting on the floor thereof and responsive to the unevenlevel of said groove floor to move one of each pair of members inresponse to the variation of floor level in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSUeltschi Oct. 28, 1925

